Northampton man asks judge to dismiss sex charges

January 22, 2006|The Morning Call

A Northampton borough man, charged with sexually assaulting a teenager and later threatening his girlfriend, wants the charges thrown out.

John Collotty, 26, of 1631 Main St., is charged by Northampton police for alleged incidents on Sept. 3 and Nov. 9. His attorney, Joseph Yannuzzi of Bethlehem, on Friday filed a legal motion contending evidence is insufficient to proceed in the cases. A hearing on the request to dismiss the charges is set for Feb. 3.

According to court records, a 15-year-old girl said Collotty groped her on Sept. 3. He is charged with indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor.

On Nov. 9, according to records, Desiree Rivera, Collotty's live-in girlfriend, reported that Collotty swore at her and made racial comments. While police were at the couple's home, court records show, Collotty "spit in the face of" Rivera. He is charged with terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation in that incident.

Rivera also told police Collotty was drunk and had threatened to kill her when she refused to allow him to hold their son, whose age was not given.